Receptacle and opening means therefor



July 20, 1965 1.. FRIED ETAL RECEPTACLE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR Original Filed Jan. 11, 1957 g Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORJ Louis F ied BY A. Ralph D Andrea Mvhm ATTYJ- July 20, 1965 1.. FRIED'ETAL v REGEPTACLE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR Original Filed Jan. 11, 1957 F I 6.6

2 sheets-sheet 2 FIG] INVENTORJ' 3o Loui Fried BY A. Ralph DAndreu PMJ M United States Patent 0 3,195,763 RECEiTAiILE AND @PENLNG lt lEANd THEREFOR Louis Fried, 67 5. Mann Ave, East Grange, Ni, and A. Ralph DAndrca, 6357 Greene St, Philadelphia, Pa, Continuation of application filer. No. 633,711, Jan. 11, 1957. This application Nov. 16, 1 369, Ser. No. M392, 1'] Claims. (Cl. 220-54) This invention relates to the class of receptacles and is directed particularly to improvements in means for opening the same, and is a continuation of our copending application Serial No. 633,711, filed January 11, 1957.

While the present invention is applicable to an infinite variety of receptacles of any size or shape, manufactured from metal, metal lined fiberboard, plastic, or any other suitable material, it is particularly designed for or applicable to metal, metal lined fiberboard and/ or plastic or any other suitable material for the manufacture of any type of receptacle or container.

In the art of metallic receptacles a number of different ways have heretofore been devised for effecting quick and easy opening of the same and these involve the use of keys employed for removing tear strips or metal cutting implements for cutting away a portion of the wall of the receptacle to provide a pour opening therein. in those devices for effecting the opening of a can or other receptacle where a tear strip is provided with a key for removing it from the wall or" the receptacle, the receptacle wall or body is either left with a dangerous raw metal edge or a special form of wall construction is resorted to which will protect the raw metal edge and which also provides a flange or lip with which the removed portion of the wall can be engaged for replacement and use as a lid, as in the well known coffee can. However, this latter construction involves operations in the construction of the can which materially increase the cost of production.

in the art of metal lined fiberboard containers or rece tacles especially those used for frozen contents therein, it is most diilicult to cut through the metal lined fiberboard with the attending result of unsanitary spilling of the contents when any attempt is made to remove part of the metal lined fiberboard wall of the container or receptacle. The cutting instrument must have a very sharp edge and much force is necessary to penetrate through the metallic cover of the fiberboard.

in the use of cutting and punching openers, where some form of metal cutting implement is employed, only a small part or section of the receptacle wall is removed and while this permits relatively easy removal of the contents when they are of a liquid nature, such an opening method is not satisfactory for use in receptacles containing vegetables, for example, or other material having solid pieces or solid matter therein.

Also in the use of cutting or punching openers where some form of metal cutting implement is employed during the operation of cutting or punching through the metal Wall of the receptacle or the container, the metal particles, which may be released as a result of the cutting or punching operation, fall into the contents of the container or receptacle and these particles, being almost mlcroscopic in size, become immersed in the contents and, in the case of food or other edible material, become mixed with such material and consumed by the user. This is a very dangerous situation since these small metal particles entering the body of the consumer of the edible contents of such container or receptacle may cause organic bodily disturbances should the particles be not normally eliminated.

in View of the foregoing, a particular object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle or receptacle wall constructed in a new manner whereby all or a sub stantial portion of the wall may be completely removed without the necessity of employing lreys, cutters or similar opening devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new readily openable receptacle wherein a wall is formed in such a manner that all or a substantial portion thereof can be removed by a single quick pull applied to an integral part of such portion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle such as a can or the like wherein a'wall or a substantial portion of a wall is formed all in one piece with a grasping means by which to apply a pull thereto and wherein such wall portion is cut or slit in such a manner that when a pull is applied to such grasping means the wall portion will come out cleanly and without leaving dangerous exposed raw edges of metal, and completely eliminating the possibility of consuming dangerous metal particles where the contents of the receptacle or container are eaten.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved receptacle and opening means therefor wherein a removable wall portion is shielded on the inner side by a frangible liner sheet and wherein further the removable wall portion is designed so that after removal it may be employed as a means for rupturing or cutting out the frangible liner to give access to the contents of the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved receptacle or container construction wherein an end wall is designed to have a substantial portion readily removable and is also provided with a means integral with the removable portion for facilitating the grasping and withdrawal of such removable portion and wherein further such end wall is adapted to be shaped, as by stamping or the like, from a single piece of metal in such a way that it is capable of being stacked so as to be fed from a conventional feeding magazine of a can closing machine.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

PEG. 1 is a view in perspective of a conventional metal can showing one end wall thereof constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the new opening 1621113 illustrating the first step in the process of removing the detachable portion of the wall;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a further stage in the removing process of the wall portion wherein the removable section is partly detached;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view showing the dctachabic part of the end wall completely separated and illustrating the interior frangible lining which covers the inner side of the wall;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 1, the figure being on an enlarged scale;

lG. 6 is a view in top plan of the can end wall before applied to a can body;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of PEG. 6 on an enlarged scale and showing two of the can tops or end walls in nested relation;

EEG. 8 is a view illustrating one way in which the removed disl; section of the end wall may be folded or bent into a condition where it can be used as an implement for cutting out the frangible liner;

FIG. 9 illustrates the complete removal of the grasping tongue or tab, providing in the tab a cutting implement which may be used for removing the frangible liner;

FIG. 10 is a reproduction of an actual micro-photograph of a transverse section through the seam between a lid and side wall of a can having a frangible foil liner secured beneath the lid in accordance with the present invention, which section having approximately 50 magnification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the present invention has been illustrated in association with a conventional cylindrical metal can of the type which -may be used for merchandising various food products,'

either of a completely liquid character of a character where solid material forms a part thereof, and while the illustration is made of a cylindrical can and the following description will be directed to a can of the form shown,

of receptacle wherein the cylindrical side wall is designated 12 and one end wall is generally designated 14. The other or opposite end wall, which is generally designated 16, is constructed in accordance with the present invention, the detailed description of which follows:

In accordance with the present invention the readily openable wall 16 of the present invention is pressed as ;an integral one-piece unit from a sheet of metal or other suitable material and in desired size as, for example, a disk 18, when the wall unit is to be applied to the end of a can. This disk is shaped to provide the central circular plate or head portion 29 which is encircled by the peripheral wall 21 and this wall merges with an outwardly extending relatively wide flange 22, reference now being had to FIGS. 6 and 7, where the wall unit is shown as prepared ready for application to an end of a can body. This peripheral flange 22 terminates in the downwardly and inturned-encircling lip 23. V

The central removable or detachable part or portion'is connected by a rupturable connection to a marginal portion of the can top. 'This central removable or detachable part or portion which has been referred to as the head or plate 20, is cut through on a circular line in close proximity to the encircling wall portion 21, this circular cut line being interrupted or divided into a series of arcuate parts or sections each of which is designated 24. These parts 24 are in the form of weakened delineations or very fine slits the edges of which lie close together or substantially in contact, but the material is cut entirely through in the arcuate parts or portions which the numeral 24 designates. The ends of these arcuate portions -or slits are closely spaced to one another and there are thus provided the narrow uncut or unbroken joining portions on tongues 25 which maintain the complete onepiece form of the wall unit and the width of each tongue being materially less than the length of each one of said slits.

In the present illustration of the disk form of the wall the integral or uncut portions of the metal between the central removable part or portion 20 and the outer marginal part or portion which is permanently fastened to the edge of the can wall 12, have been shown as six in number, but while this number of connections is preferred, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited in this respect as the number of connections may be selected in accordance with the weight or character of the metal or metallic covered fiberboard or other material used in accordance with the size or shape of the receptacle or container so that the relatively easy removal of the central part 26 can be effected when the desired pull is applied thereto.

Also the interrupted circular cut line made up of the portions 24 has been illustrated as lying close in to the angle 21 between the removable part 29 and the encircling wall 21. While this positioning of the slit portions or interrupted circular cut line is preferred, it is to be understood here also that the slits can be placed farther out from the wall 21 into a marginal portion of the said head portion 2%, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention. One advantage in placing the slit portions 24 close to the angle 21' will be apparent from the description hereinafter given.

In the shaping of the disk to form the can wall, there is also formed the bendable pull tab or tongue 26 which is provided to be grasped, lifted and pulled for effecting the breaking away and removal of the central part 2%. This tab 26 is of a length slightly less than the radius of the circular removable part 20 and the free end of the tab is located at approximately the center of the removable part while the side edges thereof terminate at a suitable distance inwardly from the interrupted circular slit made up of the parts 24 to provide enough material to prevent the tongue or tab being torn out before the joining portions 25 are broken or ruptured. These portions of material lying between the ends of the side edges of the tab or tongue 26, or in other words, lying between the parallel cut lines 26 which define the sides of the tab or tongue, are designated 27. It is understood that the size or shape of the tab or tongue can be changed'to fit the particular application as to size or shape of the receptacle or container and it is obvious that the pull tab merely serves to enable one to pull the central portion 20 of the top off or away from the can and thus quite readily and effectively open the can. It will be noted that the central portion of the top 2% is defined by the circular line of the parts 24 and that the pull tab 26 has a portion thereof which may be denoted by the portion of the material substantially between or at the ends of the converging lead lines 2'7 in FIG. 6 and which in effect is the position whereat the said pull tab is permanently fixed or joined to the central portion of the top 29 adjacent to the perimetrical portion thereof, viz., adjacent the perimeter of the central portion of the top 26. It will also be seen from FIG. 6 and the other figures of the drawing that the pull tab has a free portion which is directed inwardly toward a perimetrical portion of the top remote from'thc perimetrical portion to which the first mentioned portion of the tab is fixed or joined.

After the disk has been cut to form the tab or tongue 26, the tab is pressed to have a slight outward bow as indicated at 2. This raises the side edges 29 of the tab or tongue slightly above the surface of the removable central part 29 as shown in FIG. 1, while the free end of the tab is maintained in the plane of the part 20 and thus the end of the tab is protected so that it cannot catch accidentally on any object and be pulled out of place while at the same time, by this slight bowing of the tab intermediate its ends, the side edges are raised to a sufiicient extent to permit one to engage the nails of a thumb and forefinger under the sidesof the tab so as to bend it outwardly to the necessary extent to permit grasping the tab between the thumb'and forefinger in'the manner indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2.

The inner or under side of the disk forming the end wall unit is covered by a sheet of any suitable frangible material such as aluminum foil or a plastic, which sheet of material is designated 30. The frangible sheet 30 extends over the full width of the disk and into the channel formed by the wall 21, the flange 22 and the lip 23. The under side of the flange 22 has a suitable layer of adhesive 31 applied thereto and the sheet of frangible material extends partly over or onto the layer of adhesive as indicated at 32 in FIG. 7 to be folded into the seam enemas formed when the disk is joined to the end of the circular wall E2 of the can in the usual or conventional manner.

When the disk top is so applied, the can will be hermetically sealed by reason of the particular manner in which the adhesive and the peripheral portion of the trangible sheet are compressed and held in the formed seam.

As is conventional in connection with the application of tops or covers to receptacles and particularly in connection with the securing of tops to metal cans, the can wall is provided with an outstanding flange which enters into the channel formed by the parts 21, 22 and 2 3 of the lid shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. this flange of the can wall 12 is designated 12 and is here shown turned or folded into the folded-over portions or parts 23, 22 and 23 of the lid and this figure also illustrates the manner in which the peripheral portion of the frangible sealer 39 is compressed between the interfolded elements of the can wall and lid.

As hereinbefore set forth in the description of the figures, Flt}. 1G is a copy or reproduction of an actual microphotograph of a section of the seam formed between the can wall and the lid of the can construction herein described. it will be seen that the part designated 2-2 in FIGS. 6 and 7 is bent or folded over and down and the lip designated 23 is turned inwardly and upwardly and is secured between the can wall 12 and the downwardly turned flange 12 of the wall. In this turning and folding opera tion which forms the seam, the metal foil forming the frangible seahng element is compressed between the upper end of the can wall 22 and the wall portion 21 of tne lid or top, as indicated at 3 3-, and a portion of the periphery of the frangible sealing member extends over the top of the can wall and is squeezed and forced downwardly to a substantial degree between the outer side of the downturnerl flange 12 and the bent down portion 22. As shown in FIG. 10 this peripheral portion is drawn in this squeezing operation between the portions 12 and 22 to a tapered thickness as indicated at fill and the edge terminates approximately half way down the height of the seam or of the downwardly turned portion 12 of the can flange. The sealing or bonding material 31 is also compressed and squeezed down to fill the angle at 22' which is formed by the bending back or bending up of the lip 23 of the can lid so that this angle is completely filled with the sealing substance 31 and the sealing substance so distributed in the angle together with the compression and extension or elongation of the frangible material 3t results in the formation of a hermetic seal between the wall of the can and the applied lid.

In the operation of applying the lid which causes a drawing of the frangible sheet radially outwardly, cornpressing and squeezing it between the folded portions as described, it will be seen that the portions of the frangible sheet lying across the central part 29 will be drawn tightly against the surface of such part and effectively cover the slits 24 and the slit forming or outlining the tongue 26 to effectively close these cut portions of the lid.

The can lids or end walls are so constructed, as will be seen upon reference to FIG. 7 that they may be stacked one upon another and thus fed from a magazine to conventional closing machine. After the lid or wall 16 has been applied to the can body and sealed by rolling the flanges 22 and 12 with the lip 23 of the lid, the frangible protecting sheet 3% will lie flat across the under side of the lid and thus prevent the escape of any of the liquid content of the can through the slit portions 24 or through the slit outlining the pull tab or tongue as.

In the process of opening the can the tab 26 is engaged at its raised or bowed side edges in the manner hereinbefore stated and when the free end has been lifted sufiiciently it is grasped between the fingers as shown in FIG. 2 and then by applying a quick sharp outward pull to the tab, the connecting portions 25 between the central part 2@ and the wall 21 will be ripped or torn apart, as indicated at 25, so that the entire central portion 29 of the lid will come free, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This will expose the frangible liner sheet 30 which protected the inner side of the removable portion and covered the slits in the manner described.

When the interrupted circular out line made up of the several slits 24 is placed close to or directly in the angle or corner 21, after the part 20 has been torn loose, the exposed edge 34 of the metal will lie so close to the wall 21 that the possibility of the person opening the can receptacle or container, being cut thereon is reduced to a minimum.

The numeral 25" designates in FIG. 4 the small points which remain after the tearing away of the metal in the portions 25.

After removing the central part 2% the protective frangible sheet can be easily ruptured and either torn out or cut away with any suitable implement. For example, the removed plate 20 may have the tongue torn away therefrom, leaving the very short rough edges 35, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The plate 20 may then be folded on a radial line passing through the center of the opening from which the tab or tongue 26 has been removed and one of the points 36 thus obtained may be used to puncture the frangible sheet and cut it away around the edge 34.

In place of bending the plate portion 26 and using the points 36 to cut away the foil, use may be made of one of the edge portions 37 of the tongue 26 where the metal has been torn across the portions 27 in the operation of tearing the tongue away from the plate Zll.

Broadly summed up, the present invention envisions a receptacle wherein a wall is formed to provide a material discharge opening by having a fixed portion and a movable or fully removable portion and wherein the said portion is secured to the fixed portion by solid rupturable connecting means separated by structure which will permit the movable or removable portion to readily be separated from the fixed portion when a pull is applied thereto. This concept encompasses any means by which the desired vseparation may be easily accomplished upon rupture of the solid connectings between the portions either by reason of the described slits or by reason of a weakening of the material between the connecting means and it also encompasses the employment of applied rupturable connecting means as well as the employment of continuing solid portions of the material of which the receptacle wall is formed. The foregoing construction backed up by the sheet of frangible material provides a new concept in the art of receptacles and opening means therefor.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a new and novel opening means for a receptacle, wherein the entire structure is embodied in a single sheet of material so that there is not required any separate or auxiliary opening device either in the form of a separate piece attached to the can lid or wall or a completely separate and independent implement, to effect the desired opening of the receptacle. Also, it will be seen that the invention may be embodied in a wall surface of any size or shape and that the removable portion 20 may cover or take in any desired area of the wall surface of which it forms a part.

It is to be understood that this invention comprehends the prefabrication of the can end so that the same may be stacked and handled by conventional can closing machinery in the usual manner. Moreover, the manner of removing the removable portion of the can top is accomplished uniquely in that with one pull upwardly of the tab, and in substantially that same motion and without resorting to any tearing action, the removable portion is readily disassociated from that portion of the top which is permanently attached to the can body.

We claim:

1. A wall construction for a receptacle comprising a body of sheet material adapted for sealed attachment to a receptacle wall, said sheet having a pull-out portion re tained in place by a weakness line in the material, and

the material of the, sheet within the contour of said portion having a pull tab permanently fixed thereto, and the having a part thereof adapted tobe bent out'fo'r grasping to facilitate the pulling out of the portion.

3, A wall construction for a receptacle comprising a body (Sf-sheet material having an outwardly disposed'portion thereof adapted for sealed attachment to a receptacle Wall, said'sheet having a pull-out portion inwardly or the outwardly disposed portion and being retained in place by a weakness line in the material, and the sheet material having-located totally within the contour of said portion, a one piece pull tab permanently fixed thereto, and-"the pull tab being adapted to be bent out for 'graspingand pulling to effect substantially" simultaneously the rupturing of the entire weakness line and complete separation of the pull-out portion from the outwardly disposed portion and the pulling out ofthe complete portion.

4. A wall construction for a receptacle comprising a body ofsheet material adapted for 'sealed'attachment to a receptacle wall, said sheet having a pull-out portion retained in place by a weakened line in the material, and the material of the sheet within the contour of said portion having a part thereof adapted to be grasped and pulled to effect the substantial simultaneous separation of the pullout portion at the weakened line and the pulling out of the portion] 5: A can top having a central portion with inner and outer sides and a marginal portion for attachment to a canbo'dy, said central portion of the top having a rupturable connection with said marginal portion thereof, a one piece bendable pull tab lying within the perimeter of the area defined by the central portion of the top and having a portion thereof permanently fixed to the central L portion closely adjacent to a per'imetrical portion thereof, said pull tab having a free portion directed inwardly to ward'a perimetrical portion of the top remote from the perimetrical portion to which the first mentioned portion of the tabis fixed, and when the free portion of the tab is pulled the said connection is ruptured and the central portion of the top is thus removedf 6. A can top having a central portion with inner and outer sides and a marginal portion for attachment to a can body, said central portion of the top having a' rupturable connection with said marginal portion thereof, a one pie'ee elongated bendable pull tab struck from, in,- te'gral with, and substantially coplanar with, and defining an opening in, the material of the central portion of the top, said tab being substantially of the dimensions of the opening and being disposed therein and closing same and lying within the perimeter of the area defined by the central portion of the'top and having a portion thereof permanently fixed to the c'entral portion, said' pull tab having a free portion directed inwardly toward a perimetri- 9. A can top as defined in and by claim 8, wherein the pull tab is formed with a permanent bow intermediate its ends toproject intermediate its ends slightly above the outer side of the central portion of the can top for facilitating grasping of the pull tab to raise the said free end thereof to be grasped by the fingers whereby the pull tab may be bent and pulled to remove the central portion from the can top, r r

10. A can top as defined in and by claim 9, wherein an imperforate sheet of frangible material overlies the inner side of the central portion ofthe can top and'is sealed throughout its perimeter to the end of the can body outside of the rupturable connection of the central portion of the can top' with the marginal portion thereof-.

11. A one-piece can top as an individual article of manufacture, the top being comprised'of a central recessed portion surrounded by; a relatively narrow upstanding wall and'an outwardly and downwardly extending flange and the downwardly extending flange being of less width than the upstanding wall, the upstanding wall and the flanges serving as means for attachment to the end of a can body, there being a juncture defined where the upstanding wall emerges from the perimeter of the recessed portion, the juncture having thereat a weakened readily rupturable line completely therearound which retains the a recessed portion of the top and the upstanding wall in their proper relationship, a readily frangible membrane on the inner side of the recessed portion, and pull tab means carried by'the recessed portion so that this recessed portion when the tab is pulled may be completely removed I from the upstanding wall portion.

thetab is lifted and'pulled the said connection is ruptured and the central portion of the top is thus removed.

7. A can top as defined in and by claim 6, wherein a frangible member extends over the said opening and is disposed on and held in engagement with the inner side of the can top;

8; A can top as defined in and by claim 6, wherein the central portion of the can top has a continuous slit therein defining the opening and the pull tab and has a free end and an attached end, the attached end of the pull tab being in relatively close proximity to the perimeter of the area defined by the central portion of the 'top, and the pull tab being adapted to be bent outward for grasping.

12. A can top as defined in and by claim 11 wherein the pull tab is elongated and is integral with and struck from the material of the recessed portion of the top thereby forming an opening over which the frangible membrane extends for sealing the opening and into which opening the pull tab is positioned. V

13. A method of opening a sealed receptacle in which there is: 'a Wall having an area portion defined and circurnscribed by a readily broken weakness line; a pull tab fixed" to said wall within the contour of the area portion to be grasped and pulled by the fingers to break said line and remove the area portion, a sealing sheet of frangible material covering the inner sideof the wall; the said method comprising grasping the pull tab with the fingers, applying a quick outward jerk to the said pull tab and to the area portion to break the weakness line and remove the area portion in one quick motion and thereby expose the sealing sheet, then tearing the pull tab away, on at least one side thereof, from the area portion to thereby form said area portion with a raw cutting edge and then completing the opening of the receptacle by utilizing said raw cutting edge of the area portion to fracture and cut away a part of the exposed sealing sheet.

14. A method of opening a sealed receptacle in which there is: a wall having an area portion defined and circumscribed by a readily broken weakness line; an elongate pull tab cut out along the major extent of its length from the Wall in the area portion but remaining fixed in its minor portion and at one end to the area portion in close proximity to the weakness line and adapted to be grasped at its other end by the fingers and pulled to break said line and remove the area portion, and a sealing sheet of frangible material covering the inner side of the wall; the said method comprising grasping the said other end of the pull tab with the fingers, applying a quick outward jerk to the said pull tab and to the said area portion to break the weakness line and remove the area portion in one quick motion and thereby expose the sealingsheet, then tearing the tab away from the area portion to which it is fixed to leave the area portionwith a slot opening through the edge thereof, folding the area portion along a line extending longitudinally of and between opposite longitudinal edges of the slot, and completing the open ng of the receptacle by utilizing a raw edge corner at one end of one side of the slot where the tab was torn away, to fracture and cutaway a part of the exposed sealing sheet.

15. A wall construction for a receptacle, comprising a body of sheet metal material formed for sealin attachment to a receptacle Wall, said body sheet having a pull-out portion retained in place by a weakness line in the material, the material of the sheet body Within the contour of said pull-out portion having a one piece pull tab of bendable metal permanently fixed to said portion and having an end for digital grasping and a portion of said tab being closely adjacent to said weakness line, and the pull tab being adapted to have said end lifted for grasping and bent adjacent to said weakness line to a position in which the tab extends outwardly from said position to facilitate application of an outward pull by digits grasping the said end of the tab to thereby break the weakness line to effect by the pull on the tab, the complete removal of said pull-out portion.

16. An end wall unit for attachment to an end of a can body, said unit consisting of a sheet metal body having a circumscribing rim portion for permanent attachment to the can body, and the said rim portion having integral therewith a central portion detachably connected thereto to provide an opening in the said unit when said central portion is removed from the rim portion, said rim portion having a top edge and an inside wall part, the said central portion lyin in a plane below the said top edge of the rim portion and meeting said inside wall part to form an inside corner angle, said central portion being demarcated by a separable line of division lying in said angle closely adjacent to said inside wall part and providing for complete detachment and removal of the central portion from said rirn portion, said central portion when detached from said rim portion along said line of division in said angle leaving the rim portion attached to the Wall of the can with an edge at the said inside corner angle, and a pull tab permanently carried by said detachable central portion and completely within the area defined by said line of division and lying below the said top edge of said rim and the pull tab being adapted for bending upwardly by a human finger and to be grasped by the fingers of a human hand for pulling outwardly on the tab and thus completely separating the said central portion completely and continuously along said line of division from said rim portion and allowing the central portion only to be completely removed along with the pull tab and providing the said opening.

17. An end wall unit for attachment to the end of a can body, the said unit consisting of a body of sheet metal having a circumscribing portion forming a rim adapted for permanent attachment to an end of a can body wall, the said sheet metal body including a central portion detachably joined to the rim at spaced intervals therearound by integral, fracturable tongues to provide an opening in the said body of sheet metal when said tongues are broken and said central portion is removed from the rim portion, said rim portion having a top edge and an inside wall part, the said central portion lying in a plane below the said top edge of the rim portion and meeting said inside wall part to form an inside corner angle, said central portion being demarcated by arcuate slits in the sheet metal body forming a separable line of division lying in said angle closely adjacent to said inside wall part and said fracturable tongues lying in said angle between and separating adjacent ends of said slits and when fractured providing complete separation of the central portion along said line of division in said angle from said rim portion, forming said opening in the body of sheet metal and leaving said rim portion attached to the wall of the can with an edge at the said inside corner angle, the said spaced apart tongues each being of a width materially less than the length of each of said slits, a sheet of frangible material secured against the underside of said body of sheet metal and covering and sealing said slits, and a pull tab permanently carried by said detachable central portion Within the area defined by said line of division and lying below the said top edge of said rim, the said pull tab being bendable and having a free end and being formed to be engaged by a human finger for raising said free end and to be grasped and bent outwardly by the fingers of a human hand for pulling outwardly on the tab and on the central portion to thereby fracture said attaching tongues and separate the said central portion completely along said line of division from the rim portion and complete removal of the central portion and pull tab.

References Cited by the Examiner UN ITED STATES PATENTS 934,832 9/09 Parker 21551 1,056,914 3/13 Lang 22027 1,403,532 1/22 Wright 215-51 1,520,403 12/24 Coates 215-51 2,029,329 2/36 Ljungstrom 22048 2,082,760 6/37 Berni 22048 2,146,226 2/39 Pubte 229-7 2,615,610 10/52 White 2297 2,652,148 9/53 Pieifer 220-63 2,781,149 2/57 Fried 22048 2,790,577 4/57 Fried 220-48 2,821,326 1/58 Fried 220-48 FOREIGN PATENTS 369,129 3/32 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. A WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR A RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A BODY OF SHEET MATERIAL ADAPTED FOR SEALED ATTACHMENT TO A RECEPTACLE WALL, SAID SHEET HAVING A PULL-OUT PORTION RETAINED IN PLACE BY A WEAKNESS LINE IN THE MATERIAL, AND THE MATERIAL OF THE SHEET WITHIN THE CONTOUR OF SAID PORTION HAVING A PULL TAB PERMANENTLY FIXED THERETO, AND THE TION HAVING A PULL TAB PERMANENTLY FIXED THERETO, AND THE OUT FOR GRASPING TO FACILITATE THE PULLING OUT OF THE PORTION. 